At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to support drug development by conducting pharmacokinetic studies.
- Company: Charles River is a leading contract research organisation dedicated to improving global health.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, training opportunities, and a diverse, inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on health while working in a collaborative and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: A degree in chemistry or life sciences is required; lab experience is a plus.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 23900 - 31600 £ per year.
Job Description
This job is with Charles River, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we'll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
Job Summary
The Discovery Sciences provides support to the pharmaceutical industries by evaluating the pharmacokinetics of new drugs in vivo in a variety of test systems in early stages of drug development.
We are looking to recruit a Scientific Associate to join this exciting team of scientists in the Discovery Sciences department on a 12 month fixed term contract. The role of this team is to run PK studies (candidate selection or late stage bespoke) to understand the pharmacokinetic properties of novel pharmaceuticals in a variety of species. Working in close contact with our clients, the study directors, the management team and the internal Charles River network you will be expected to contribute to the conduct of projects to support the smooth and swift progression of novel drug candidates through preclinical evaluation and beyond. Your responsibilities as a Scientific Associate will include the following:
• Accurate and detailed documentation of activities
• Generation of critical electronic data
• Assisting with the preparation of data and reports for issue to clients
• Engagement in staff training and development programs
• Supervision of staff (where required)
Applicants should be educated to degree level ideally in a chemistry or life sciences (with a chemistry/biology component) related discipline. Relevant laboratory experience in the conduct of regulatory studies would be advantageous, however, full training will be provided.
Specific criteria that you are required to meet include:
- Relevant qualifications, specifically a minimum of a scientific degree in a relevant discipline.
2. A strong eye for detail and excellent documentation skills.
3. Excellent communication, organisation and time management skills as well as an ability to work flexibly and to tight deadlines
4. A working knowledge of Microsoft Office or scheduling software would be beneficial.
Closing date: 09 August 2025
Salary for this position is: £27,951.22 per annum.
About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.
About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.
With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.
At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.
At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to the principle of diversity and inclusion and work daily in this direction.
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Scientific Associate - Discovery Sciences employer: Charles River
Contact Detail:
Charles River Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Scientific Associate - Discovery Sciences
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in pharmacokinetics and drug development. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, especially those working in Discovery Sciences. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to make connections that could lead to valuable insights or referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your laboratory experience in detail, particularly any regulatory studies you've been involved in. Highlight specific projects where you demonstrated strong documentation and organisational skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your proficiency in Microsoft Office and any scheduling software during the interview. Being able to articulate how these tools have helped you manage projects effectively can set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Scientific Associate - Discovery Sciences
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the job description for the Scientific Associate position. Emphasise your educational background in chemistry or life sciences, as well as any laboratory experience you may have.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a compelling cover letter that explains why you are interested in the role at Charles River. Mention your passion for drug development and how your skills can contribute to their mission of improving health and well-being globally.
Highlight Attention to Detail: Since the role requires excellent documentation skills, provide examples in your application that demonstrate your attention to detail. This could include specific projects where you maintained accurate records or generated critical data.
Showcase Communication Skills: In your application, illustrate your communication and organisational skills. You might want to mention experiences where you successfully collaborated with teams or managed projects under tight deadlines.
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles River
✨Know Your Science
Brush up on your knowledge of pharmacokinetics and drug development processes. Be prepared to discuss relevant scientific concepts and how they apply to the role of a Scientific Associate.
✨Showcase Your Attention to Detail
Since the role requires accurate documentation and data generation, be ready to provide examples from your past experiences where your attention to detail made a significant impact on a project.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with teams or clients in the past, and be ready to articulate complex scientific information clearly.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Microsoft Office
As the job mentions a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, ensure you are comfortable using tools like Excel for data management and Word for report writing. You might even want to mention any specific projects where you used these tools effectively.